Labor Reform

At the end of the day, the collective bargaining practices of government unions offer them a monopoly on electing officials across the United States.

The State Government Leadership Foundation believes it is time for state and local governments to reestablish voter control over government by ending collective bargaining with government unions.

Collective bargaining gives government unions a monopoly on labor. It prevents voters and taxpayers from hiring anyone on nonunion terms. This gives government unions enormous leverage over the public.

In the private sector, competition keeps union demands in line. The government earns no profits—unions bargain for more tax dollars.

Bargaining collectively in government means that voters do not have the final say on public policy. Instead, their elected representatives must negotiate spending and policy decisions with the unions.

Government unions have used this leverage to raise government pay above private-sector pay and to negotiate subsidies for their fundraising, thereby politicizing the civil service. Aside from the political parties, government unions are the top campaign spenders in America.

State and local governments should restore voter control over government by ending collective bargaining with government unions.

Government unions are essentially also proponents of more government, more handouts, and greater spending. Taxpayers should not have to subsidize the wish lists of government unions.

Unlike in the past, a majority of union members in the U.S. now work for the government. Their pay and benefits are funded by taxpayers.

Unions are campaigning for higher taxes and more government spending in dozens of states across the country. Today’s union movement consists largely of government employees lobbying for more government.

This transformation of unions is the result of competition, which has undercut private-sector unions like the United Auto Workers. But the government faces no competition, so government unions can negotiate higher pay and more benefits (and higher taxes to pay for it) without risking their jobs.

In the government, payroll systems automatically deduct union dues from unionized employees’ paychecks. Taxpayers should not have to subsidize union campaigns, much less those that call for tax increases. Congress should end the automatic payroll deduction of union dues.

Paid for by the State Government Leadership Foundation. Contributions to the State Government Leadership Foundation are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. The SGLF is a non-profit corporation established under and operated in a manner consistent with section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.